Clutch plate



.No-m3, 1931. n H. v. REED 1,830,521

CLUTCH PLATE Filed March 7, 1929 'Patented Nov. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES {Pari-:Nr orifice V. l* CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ABSIGNOB T0 THE BORG & BECK l OTCHICAGO, IIIIHOIB,'A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS i CLUTCH PLATE Application med March 7, 1929. Serial No. 845,141.

This invention relates to friction clutches of the kind wherein a friction plate is interosed between two parts of a driving memer and is adapted to be gripped or c amped by the parts under suilicient pressure to impart motion from the driving member to the driven member of the clutch. Theinvention is particularly desirable in a friction clutch for automotive vehicles.

novel clutch plate having friction rin s which will take hold smoothly and even y throu hout the contact area when pressure is initiay applied and by a yielding but rapid progressive action make the clutch act quickly and eiliciently without grabbing or jerking.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clutch plate with continuous friction rings and to make full engagement between the friction rings and the riving member throu hout the application of pressure, wheriy to secure maximum efficiency in a rapid progressive movement and without uneven wear on the rings.

' And a further object of the invention is to rovide a clutch plate with a relatively fixed riction rin on one side and a yieldingly mounted an relatively movable friction rin 80 on its other side, the arrangement being suc that both rings make full en agement with contacting parts throughout t e pressure application and the relatively movable rin providing a yielding and progressive clutc enga ment.

n the accompanying drawings I have il lustrated a selected embodiment of the inven-v tion and referring thereto Fig. 1- is a side elevation of the clutch plate showing one of the friction rings partly broken away.l th 1 2.52

e ine Fig. 2 is a sectional view on of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3--3 of F1 1.

Reerring to the drawings ,the clutch plate comprises a disk 5 mounted on a hub 6 and it is provided with a friction ring 7 which is .secured flat to one side of the plate by rivets 8 or other suitable fastening devices. The

The object of the invention is to provide a' other clutches, or for other plate is provided with a plurality of wings 9 spaced apart annularly within the periphery of the plate and all extending in the same d1- rection. Each wing is struck up from the plate and I prefer to provide relatively wide slits 10 at the sides of the wing to insure free dom of action of the wing. The wings are all bent outward slightly from that side of the plate o posite to the ring 7 and a similar ring l1 is astened by rivets 12 or other siiitf able fastening means to these wings adjacent the free ends 13. The slits 10 diverge and the wings taper preferably, being narrower at their free ends 13 than at their rear ends 14 where they connect with the plate. This 65 provides a wing of substantial strength and rigidity to function in accordance with my invention and resist wear. and the effects of heat. Thetapering win provides a yielding sup ort for the mova le friction ring 1l 10' which is yieldable to the maximum degree upon first application of pressure and gradually increases in resistanceto the pressure v as the pressure application advances. The invention provides a novel and simple form of driven plate which is adapted to give a yielding and progressive engagement of the clutch to provide a soft action. All of the wings are compressed simultaneousl and uni ormly and therefore any annular s ift of the movable ring is bodily and will not tend to loosen the fastenings.

lI. have shown the invention in a simple formsuitable for embodiment in an automotive clutch but I reserve the right to make all such changes in1 the form, construction and arrangement of parts as may be necessary or desirable to adapt the invention for c o purposes, and within the scope of the following claims:

I claim:

1. A clutch plate having a plurality of wings off-set on one side thereof, spaced apart within the periphery of the plate and all extending annularly in the same direction, a friction ring fastened to said wings on one side of the plate, and a friction ring fastened to the other side of the plate.

2. A clutch plate having a plurality of wings spaced apart within the periphery of 3W the plate and all extending annularly in the same direction, said wings being tapered and olf-set on one side of the late, a fr1ction rin fastened to said wings a jacent the free en thereof and on one side of the plate, 5 and a friction ring fastened to the other side of the plate. 4

3. A clutch plate having a plurality of wings spaced a art within the peri hery of lthe plate and a extending annular y in the lo same direction, said wings being relatively narrow at their free ends and wlde at their rear ends where they connect with the plate, a continuous friction ring fastened to said wings adjacent the free ends thereof and on one side of the late, and a friction ring fastened to the otler side of the plate.

4.'A clutch plate having a plurality of wings o-set on one side thereof to form a yiel ing support, a relatively fixed continuous friction ring fastened to the plate on the side oposite the wings, and a friction ring mounte on said wings and yieldingly movable towards and from the fixed friction ring.

5. A clutch plate including a friction ring, means rigidly fastening the ring to the plate at one side thereof, a continuous friction ring, and means unitary with said plate and intermediate said fastening means for yieldably supporting the continuous friction ring to permit said continuous friction ring to move progressively toward the plate under clutching pressure.

HAROLD V. REED. 

